Vandy men’s basketball picked 10th in SEC; UK preseason No. 1

The Vanderbilt men’s basketball team was picked to finish 10th in the SEC this season in a preseason vote by media members.

Kentucky, which boasts one of the most touted incoming freshman classes in history, was favored to win the conference title. Florida was picked second, followed by Tennessee, LSU and Missouri.

Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas A&M were picked ahead of the Commodores; Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi State and Auburn were picked behind them.

Kentucky freshman Julius Randle was named preseason SEC player of the year. Tennessee’s Jordan McRae received the second most votes. Alabama’s Trevor Releford, LSU’s Johnny O’Bryant III and Ole Miss’ Marshall Henderson rounded out the preseason All-SEC first team.

Vanderbilt, which had four underclassmen leave the program during the offseason, is one of seven schools without a player on the first or second teams.

Kentucky also was ranked No. 1 in the country in the USA Today Sports coaches’ preseason poll.

About The Author

Jeff Lockridge

I have been on the Vanderbilt beat since 2009, at The Tennessean since 2000 and a sports journalist since 1997. Prior to Vanderbilt, I covered primarily high schools from 2000-09. My reporting history also includes stints covering the Titans, Auburn and minor league baseball. I'm a Nashville native and a graduate of Overton High (1993) and Austin Peay (1997). I live in Fr